From 3/28 – 4/7, I took a trip to Taipei, Taiwan. People asked how I afforded the plane ticket because of my current unstable, financial state but it was because I got the ticket for free. How did I get it for free? If you don’t know yet, then you won’t ever hear.
I ended up going to Taipei with one of my ex-coworkers from Deloitte for work and fun. I needed a native speaker as I heard that the locals do not speak much English and none of my other friends had the time to go. I first had the idea of going through my London friend. He/she let me know he/she was going so I decided to go with a free ticket. I stayed at a small hotel it Xi Mei. It was a block away from the MTR station so it was convenient. It was only $40 USD, 50% from the retail price as they were undergoing construction.
My first day in Taiwan was horrible. I was planning on taking the taxi because I was not familiar with the place but my London friend had given me exact and detailed directions on how to go to the hotel via bus plus taxi at 20% the cost of the taxi. To me, it’s not the oney savings that mattered but the fact that my friend took the time to email me exactly, which bus and route to take. So I went ahead and took the bus (bad idea). So I purchase the correct ticket and then stand if the right bus stop stop, #51. 5 minutes later, the bus arrives. To my luck, the driver doesn’t understand English so I give the ticket and he replies with a solemn “okay”. After 2 hours of being in the bus, the route becomes questionnable. I may have not been to Taipei but am smart enough to know that seeing no buildings in the area means not the right area. After 2.5 hours, we arrive at the first stop and it looks nothing like a modern city. I question the driver with “Taipei” and he responds with a surprised on his face and begins shuffling through his ticket stubs. Once he finds my ticket, he sighs and replies that we are in Tai Chungm which is the opposite direction of Taipei. Taipei is supposed to be only 30~ minutes from the airport. Here’s a map to shed some color:
In the end, I end up taking another bus and arrive back at the hotel 3 hours later. The rest of my trip improved with some interesting stories. Ask me if you’d like to hear but too much to type.
My first impression of Taiwan was not of surprise. I expected it to look much like a mesh between Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Seoul and that’s exactly what I got. What surprised me were the prices and pollution. I haven’t visited mainland China so could only compare it to the air in Hong Kong and it was pretty much worse.
Although I do not regret visiting, I’m not sure I would visit again unless I had traveled to all the major cities of the world. I would probably want to visit Shanghai as it would probably be a similar atmosphere, cheaper prices, and more to see.
